MODEST KOLEROV: RUSSIA CONSIDERS BOTH SIDES OF THE CONFLICTS ON THE POST SOVIET TERRITORY TO BE ITS COMPATRIOTS
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 16 2005
Russia considers both sides of the conflicts on the post Soviet
territory to be its compatriots. Chief of the RF Presidential
Department for Inter-Regional and Cultural Relations with Foreign
Countries Modest Kolerov stated it speaking at the conference “Parallel
CIS. Abkhazia, Pridnestrovie, the South Caucasus and Nagorno Karabakh
as realities of the post – Soviet territory” in Moscow.
According to Tribuna newspaper (Russia), in spite of warning of one
of the conference’s organizers, the CIS Institute Director Constantine
Zatulin that the conference’s goal is scientific and not political, the
guests did not want to confine themselves to purely “scientific” goals.
A member of the Armenian delegation, RA Democratic Party leader,
RA NA deputy Aram G. Sargsyan noted the fact that the conference
“Parallel CIS. Abkhazia, Pridnestrovie, the South Caucasus and Nagorno
Karabakh as realities of the post – Soviet territory” was organized
by the CIS Institute testified to the fact that Russia was interested
in its influence and strengthening of the stand in the Caucasus.
“The difference of Nagorno Karabakh from other unrecognized republics
is that they are ready to become associative members of the Russian
community, while Nagorno Karabakh is striving for independence from
Azerbaijan and free existence”, stated he.
He noted participants of the Armenian delegation “presented legal
aspects of the Karabakh issue, pointed out usage of double standards
by the international community”. “Azerbaijan states Armenia has
organized the conference, and it is provocative. However, one thing
is obvious – Azerbaijan is not ready for the civilized coexistence
with its neighbors”, believes Aram Sargsyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA MFA PRESS SECRETARY’S STATEMENT CALLED “DIPLOMATIC MANEUVERS” IN BAKU
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 16 2005
RA MFA press secretary Hamlet Gasparyan’s statement on Nagorno
Karabakh process “is nothing more than diplomatic maneuvers”, Head of
the International Department of the Azeri President’s Administration
Novruz Mamedov stated, Azeri Trend agency reports.
To note, Hamlet Gasparyan said Armenia’s stand had not been changed –
if Azerbaijan raised an issue referring to Nagorno Karabakh at the
UN Armenia would cease talks, so Azerbaijan would have to negotiate
with Stepanakert. RA MFA press secretary said it while commenting
on placing the issue “About the situation on Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories” on the UN General Assembly 60th sitting’s agenda.
According to Mamedov, “Armenia sees that Azerbaijan’s stand on Nagorno
Karabakh settlement is supported by the international community
and is trying to threaten Azerbaijan with suspension of talks and
negotiations with Nagorno Karabakh”.

MURDER OF AFRICAN STUDENT IN ST. PETERSBURG SOLVED
Kommersant, Russia
Sept 16 2005
Vladislav Piotrovksy, head of the criminal police of the Main
Department of Interior Affairs in St. Petersburg, announced yesterday
that the murder of Congolese student Roland Epassaka, who died Tuesday
night after being knifed on September 9, had been solved.
Piotrovsky and other city officials met with about 100 students from
African and Asian countries yesterday in the building of the city’s
legislative assembly. “The victim was acquainted with acquainted with
the most disorderly contingent in the neighborhood where he lived,”
Piotrovsky told the students. “On September 9, he and his brother
and one more acquaintance were drinking alcoholic beverages in the
apartment he rented. Then he young man went to the store near the Metro
station, where he met acquaintances who attacked him… The identities
of those people have been established and more evidence is being
gathered now.” He added that it is hard for the police to guarantee
the safety of students who live away from campus, not in dormitories.
The students began to object, but they were politely led out of the
building at that point. A spontaneous action emerged in the courtyard
of the building and the students marched along Nevsky Prospekt to
Smolny Palace, the city governor’s residence on the Square of the
Proletariat Dictatorship, where they were dissuaded from continuing
by the police. The city prosecutor’s office refused to confirm that
the murder had been solved. A spokesman there said that “so far,
no one has been charged and no one has been taken into custody in
the case.” Kommersant has determined that the suspects in the case
are the victim’s Armenian former girlfriend and her new friend,
a Chechen national. They have in fact been taken into custody, but
for living in the city without registration.

NAGORNO KARABAKH PARLIAMENT ADOPTED LAWS “ABOUT CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC SERVICE” AND “ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS”
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 16 2005
At the first plenary sitting of the NKR NA of the fourth convocation
that took place on September 14 Nagorno Karabakh Republic National
Assembly adopted laws “About Consular and Diplomatic Service” and
“About International Agreements”.
The Karabakh parliamentarians discussed about 20 issues and approved
some projects referring to amendments in the laws on fixed payments
and taxes. The deputies also listened to the NKR Finance and Economy
Ministry’s report “On Implementation of the NKR State Budget in
the First Quarter of 2005” and the CEC information on conduct of
parliamentary elections in NKR on current June 19.

FM CONFIDENT OF FAIR ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 17 2005
Foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov visiting the United States has
expressed confidence that the parliamentary elections due in Azerbaijan
this November will be free.
Mammadyarov said remarkable work has been done to conduct free
elections in the country, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The minister ruled out the repetition of national movements that
swept Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan in Azerbaijan, saying that the
government and President are interested in holding a fair poll.
Mammadyarov said that the parliament vote will be much more free than
the previous elections, as considerable work has been carried out to
ensure it meets international standards.
With regard to unrest during the election process, the minister said
both the demonstrators and law enforcement should refrain from violent
actions. “Protesters and police should not beat each other” he said.
Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh,
Mammadyarov said it is unlikely to be settled in the near future. “I
wish I could say that we are close to resolving the conflict. But
there are many problems,” he added.

THE PROPOSALS OF ICG CONTAIN A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT ARE UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE NKR
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 16 2005
The proposals of International Crisis Group (ICG) contain a number
of proposals that are unacceptable for the Karabakh party. Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan stated it while
answering the question of the NKR NA deputy Gegham Baghdasaryan
concerning official Stepanakert’s attitude towards the ICG proposals
on the Karabakh conflict settlement.
Among the negative elements the Minister mentioned the circumstance
that Karabakh conflict had been presented as contradiction between
Armenia and Azerbaijan in the report. The NKR Foreign Minister pointed
out some positive moments as well having noted the ICG respected
Nagorno Karabakh’s sovereignty. Arman Melikyan said the NKR MFA was
to express its attitude to the report in the near future.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ERDOGAN: DECISIONS ABOUT SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TAKEN BY UNRELATED COUNTRIES ARE POLITICAL
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Sept 16 2005
NEW YORK – “I do not understand on which basis unrelated countries
take decisions about so-called Armenian genocide. These decisions are
political and do not serve world peace,” said Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan held a news conference in New York, the United States on
Friday.
When asked about news claiming that Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad proposed nuclear program exchange with Turkey and Muslim
countries during his meeting with him, Erdogan said that such an
exchange of information did not happen.
“Ahmadinejad told me that Iran continues to work with Atomic Energy
Agency (AEA) transparently and their activities are for humanitarian
aims. I told him that these activities should be conducted together
with AEA. Otherwise, it can cause difficulties both for Iran and
surrounding countries,” said Erdogan.
When journalists reminded that Committee on International Relations of
the U.S. House of Representatives adopted two resolutions acknowledging
so-called Armenian genocide, Erdogan said, “such a resolution can
be adopted by committee. We clearly say that Turkey’s archives are
open and Armenia shall open its archives, if it has. We shall speak
on basis of documents and information. I do not understand on which
basis unrelated countries take decisions about so-called Armenian
genocide. These decisions are all political and do not serve world
peace.”
Replying a question about recent developments regarding EU entry
talks, Erdogan said, “we do not have any difficulty about October
3rd. The difficulty is about the response declaration (about Cyprus
issue). We say that these issues were all solved on December 17th,
2004. Unfortunately, 2-3 countries exert efforts about this issue.
Nobody can take a commitment from us about it. We fulfilled
everything. We are now getting prepared for October 3rd.”

PRESIDENT CHAIRS MEETING ON ARMY-BUILDING
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2005
A meeting on the development of Azerbaijan’s army-building chaired
by the President, Commander-in-chief Ilham Aliyev was held at the
Ministry of Defense on Friday.
During the discussions on future objectives, Aliyev said army building
is successfully developing in the country, its military potential
is strengthening and the process will continue to proceed rapidly in
the future.
The President said that Azerbaijan’s military spending will reach the
level of Armenia’s state budget soon, which alarms a number of forces.
“Armenians are concerned over our increasing military budget, which
is groundless. We are aware how much military aid Russia provided to
Armenia. But we do not interfere with this, as this is their internal
affair”, Aliyev said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE RESOLUTIONS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 ADOPTED IN THE US
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 16 2005
The US Congress House of Representatives International Committee
adopted two resolutions on Armenian Genocide of 1915.
According to the information De Facto received at the Armenian
Assembly of America the resolutions contain appeal to recognize
Armenian Genocide: the first one appeals to Turkey, while the second –
to the US administration and President.
35 members of the Committee voted for the first resolution, 11 were
against; 40 were for and 7 against the second one.
Turkish Prime Minister Rejep Tayip Erdogan who is in New York met
Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and influential representatives
of the Jewish community.
According to Hurriet newspaper (Turkey) Turkish Primmer Minister’s
press secretary Akif Bekin informed the press of the fact that Erdogan
had asked representatives of the Jewish community to support him in
connection with the forthcoming discussions of the draft resolutions
on Armenian Genocide.

SERGENIAN’S COVERS BASICS IN BUSINESS
Marv Balousek
[email protected]
Wisconsin State Journal, WI
Sept 17 2005
Photo: Tom Sergenian, president of Sergenian’s Floor Coverings and
grandson of the company founder, stands in the store’s showroom.
(STEVE APPS – State Journal)
When it comes to carpets and flooring, the Sergenian family has
covered homes and businesses in Madison for 75 years.
Sergenian’s has covered the floors at the Overture Center, the Dane
County Regional Airport and University Hospital and installed the
replacement carpeting at Monona Terrace. Sergenian’s Floor Coverings
now is working on the flooring at Epic System’s new Verona offices.
Ara Sergenian, born in New York City to Armenian parents, opened
a rug store on Monroe Street in 1930. His son, Paul, and grandson,
Tom, remain involved in the business, which these days sells a lot
more than just rugs.
The business has survived two fires, several moves and changes in the
flooring business over the years that included the beginning of wall-
to-wall carpeting in the late 1940s as well as later advances in vinyl,
stone tile and hardwood flooring.
The carpeting and flooring business is very competitive in Madison,
said Roy Spencer, an account specialist who’s worked 15 years at
Coyle Carpet, 250 W. Beltline.
“They’re good competition,” Spencer said of Sergenian’s. “It’s a very
competitive business, but we have mutual respect for each other.”
James Garner, Sergenian’s chief executive, was the first non-family
employee hired in 1965. One of his first tasks, he said, was to buy
ice cream cones for members of the Sergenian family from a store
across the street.
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